Bowman hasn't found right deal as trade deadline approaches

NASHVILLE — Joel Quenneville likes the make-up of the Blackhawks in their current form, but the coach wouldn't mind if general manager Stan Bowman brought in some help.

Thus far, Bowman hasn't been able to land the defenseman he said he is seeking before the Feb. 28 trade deadline. He wants a veteran blueliner who can kill penalties to alleviate some of the minutes Duncan Keith and others are piling up while the Hawks are at a disadvantage.

"We're looking at some things you can do and want to do and sometimes you're a little bit restricted (by the salary cap)," Quenneville said before Thursday night's game with the Predators. "If we can get better it would be great."

On the move:Tomas Kopecky has been moved up and down and left and right in recent games, shifting from center to wing and from the second line to the fourth. Including Thursday, he has skated on the fourth line at wing with Viktor Stalberg and center Ryan Johnson.

"You have to find a role," said Kopecky, who scored his career-high 11th goal of the season during the first period against the Predators. "I have to adjust. I have no problem with that — I've done it before. You just have to bring your 'A' game and compete for 60 minutes."

"Q" is A-OK: Other than a voice that kept cracking, coach Joel Quenneville was none the worse for wear in his return to the bench after missing four games with a bleeding ulcer.

"It was fun to be back," Quenneville said after the Hawks' 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators. "I felt great throughout the whole game. I could see coming after the second going into the third my voice all of sudden (went). It has been idle for a while and you have to raise it a couple of decibels."

One-timer: The Hawks' game against the Capitals in Washington on March 13 has been picked up for national television at 11:30 a.m. on WMAQ-Ch. 5.